One of first things I like about the M6 is it comes with 16 levels of resistance. When using it myself, that’s a wide enough range to challenge me, and I have to believe it will also push marathoners and dedicated fitness enthusiasts as well. It’s a great option for athletic training and conditioning and is built with High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). You can monitor vitals on the M6’s unique burn rate display, as it shows how many calories you are burning each minute while it increases activity level targets throughout your workout. The multi-grip handles also make for comfortable, agile movements. Track your heart rate monitor by simply holding the integrated contact grips.

Another big plus is the Bowflex M6 Trainer is the Bowflex JRNY Fitness App, a terrific program which provides not only workouts and feedback but access to other forms of entertainment too. Purchase of the $1,299 machine comes with a two-month trial of JRNY, normally priced at $11.99 per month or $99 per year. The JRNY app can be downloaded on tablets, phones, as well as other smart devices, and delivers both personalized workout routines as well as thousands of on-demand workouts. In addition to workouts for ellipticals, this program also has cool AI features like motion tracking for smart dumbbells, and it can be used with just about any form of exercise. Other features include real-time coaching and “Explore the World” travel routines where you can stroll through mountains, forests, and city streets.

The interactive nature of the JRNY app allows the program to assess your fitness level, monitor your workouts and logically suggest and increase your fitness competence to get to your goals. Essentially it’s akin to having your own personal trainer with you every time you jump on the M6. Yes, you can use the M6 without a JRNY subscription, but the machine goes into a manual mode. I’d recommend giving the free two-month subscription a try to see what you think.  

Why You Should Trust Our Review Of The Bowflex Max Trainer M6

At EllipticalReviews.com, we bring you comprehensive reviews of exercise equipment so you can decide which one is right for you. Our staff thoroughly test all the ellipticals we review. We install them, ride them, and try out all of the features. We get to know each and every elliptical we review extremely well. Our reviewers log miles riding. We listen and record the sound of the machine, try out all aspects of the console and try the machine’s features.

Every elliptical we review undergoes the same rigorous process. That way we can compare and contrast them and give you an honest review of what we think.

Our reviewers are fitness experts. Brian, the author of this review, is a competitive bodybuilder, and is a 7-time national qualifier in both men’s bodybuilding and classic physique within the NPC competitions. He has coached and been coached on cardiovascular training, HIIT, and nutrition, particularly as it pertains to weight loss for competitions. He is an expert when it comes to ellipticals, has been on this elliptical, and you can trust his opinion on all of the machines he reviews.

In Brief

In my experience, elliptical shoppers are smart consumers who know what they want. Treadmills remain the most sought-out pieces of home exercise equipment, but everyone knows about them. If you’re considering a Bowflex Max Trainer M6, then you must know something about what you want. Priced at $1,299, the M6 is a mid-level unit with great features. Measuring 46″ in length by 26″ in width and 64.2″ in height, you’ll want to add 15″ to your height when estimating the needed ceiling height. Instead of a big flashy high-definition screen, the M6 features a 5″ backlit display with a unique burn rate dial that reminds of a car’s miles per hour gauge. You can bring whatever screen you want by using the built-in media rack. The machine can handle up to 300 pounds in user weight.

Bowflex Max Trainer M6 - Notable Specs:

In-Depth Review of the Bowflex Max Trainer M6

Why We Like It

The Bowflex Max Trainer M6 is a mid-priced trainer designed to fit into most homes with ease. Combining the motions of both a stepper and elliptical, this machine is much easier on the joints than a treadmill, or outdoor running. When using these trainers I tend to tire out much faster than on any other piece of equipment. What’s also great about the device is it comes with a neat media shelf and you can bring whatever workout entertainment or program you want. Yes, it’s designed to work with the Bowflex JRNY app, but you can use it without that and just park it in front of a television set if that’s what you want.

It Has 16 Levels of Resistance

The Bowflex Max Trainer M6 comes with 16 levels of resistance, easily managed by the touch of a button. In my experience, 16 levels is more than enough for even an advanced athlete. The combination of stepping with the glide of the elliptical won’t fail to leave you breathless. I’m reminded of this when walking up flights of stairs. The M6 utilizes silent magnetic resistance, which means there’s no noise associated with the resistance, and it changes from one level to another quite easily.

It Works With the JRNY Fitness App

The JRNY Fitness app is a great lower-cost program, running $11 per month or $99 per year. That’s less than rival iFit, which is $18 to $39 per month. Overall, my experience with JRNY has been very positive. The “Around the World” program lets you stroll through remote parts of Earth if that’s what motivates you. If you’re looking for a variety of workout routines, the program has literally thousands, plus new ones every day. Whether customized to your past workout stats, or basic and routine, the program also offers smart coaching and Bluetooth heart rate monitoring. Like more rival apps these days, it features programs for all types of exercise, not just cardio. One recent update is that it syncs with smart dumbbells by way of a motion tracker for both repetition counting and form coaching. It also sports the most diverse playlists in terms of music I’ve yet seen. Purchase of the M6 comes with a free trial of the program and I’d highly recommend you check it out.

Video by Bowflex

It Has a Great Console

Right off the bat, this isn’t a large, flashy high-definition touchscreen. That said, the unit’s price is reflective of that. What you’re getting is a great backlit display for your workout metrics as well as a media shelf, and very unique burn meter that resembles that miles-per-hour screen on your car. Heart rate sensors are built into the handlebars and the trainer is Bluetooth-enabled if you want an armband or other type of monitor.

Bowflex Max Trainer M6 Dimensions

The dimensions of the Bowflex Max Trainer M6 are 46″ x 26″ x 64.2″ and it’s easy to move about the house. When measuring rooms, be sure to add 15″ to your own height to estimate the needs of your ceiling. This means is you’re 6′ tall, or 72″, you’ll need ceilings at least 87″ or 7’3″.

Bowflex Max Trainer M6 Machine Weight

The Bowflex Max Trainer M6 weighs 136 pounds and can hold up to 300 pounds of user weight.

What We Like:

• Low Price

  The M6 is priced at $1,299 and this puts it in the same category as smaller treadmills and the best of bikes. Overall it’s a solid mid-priced unit from a great company.

• Full Body Workout

  With four-grip handlebars, you’ll get an upper body workout as well as lower. This reminds me a bit of cross-country skiing uphill. The handlebars are positioned to fit most sizes of users.

• Heart Rate Monitoring

  The trainer comes with heart rate monitors in the handlebars as well as Bluetooth-enabling for other types of devices. Whether you’re using the JRNY app or another, you’ll be able to match up your workout to your heart rate easily enough.

• Handy Media Shelf

  You won’t have a problem fitting either your smartphone or tablet into the little shelf situated at the top of the console. Whether it’s for the JRNY program or Netflix, you’ll be able to watch what you want while you exercise.

• Silent Magnetic Resistance

  This is the preferred type of resistance for most exercise machines these days. Much smoother and less noisy than the older types, you’ll zip from one level to another in silence.

What We Don’t Like:

• Shorter Warranty

  This machine’s warranty is two years for the frame and mechanical parts, 90 days for labor. Given the price, I’d rather see a more substantive warranty.

• Assembly 

  Bowflex offers in-home assembly for $189, some of their rivals offer free in-home assembly. I’ve assembled trainers before and it’s not rocket science, but you’ll probably want some help.

• JRNY-Dependent

  Bowflex machines do work without the JRNY app, but frankly they lose a lot of value.

This Elliptical Could Be For You If You Want:

• A low-impact, high-intensity workout
• A mid-priced trainer
• A trainer with 16 levels of magnetic resistance
• A trainer without a large screen

Our Verdict:

There’s a reason the M6 continues to dominate our rankings. In terms of the average buyer, this is a top scoring machine. Unless you’re into the bells and whistles as we say, I’d recommend users of any level consider this machine. The odds of you ever outgrowing it are slim to none. One caveat there is that it does work best when paired with the JRNY app. But at only $11 per month that’s easily among the lower-cost programs on the market.